Iran's UN envoy criticizes US, EU over nuclear talks

June 29, 2012|Reuters

By Louis Charbonneau

NEW YORK, June 29 (Reuters) - Western powers negotiatingwith Iran over its nuclear program have not been "seriousenough" in their attempts to resolve an escalating stand-offwith the Islamic Republic, Tehran's U.N. envoy said on Friday.

Iran held what officials said were intense talks in Moscowearlier this month with the five permanent U.N. Security Councilmembers and Germany - the so-called P5+1 - about its nuclearprogram, but a breakthrough once again failed to materialize.

"It is clear for us that some members of the P5+1 forwhatever reasons ... are not forthcoming and serious enough forfinding a solution," Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee said ina statement to reporters at the Iranian mission.

"If the talks do not proceed as it should be, we are goingto have another stand-off," he said. "The USA and some Europeanshave said they are going to increase their pressure andsanctions against us, and this ... indicates that they are notwilling to engage with us in a meaningful dialogue."

Iran has been in a decade-long dispute with Western powersand their allies over its nuclear program, which they suspect isaimed at developing the capability to produce nuclear weapons.Tehran denies the charge.

The Moscow talks followed two rounds of negotiations sincetalks with Iran resumed in April after a 15-month hiatus duringwhich the West cranked up sanctions pressure and Israel repeatedthreats to bomb Iranian nuclear sites if diplomacy failed toprevent Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb.

Iranian officials have repeatedly insisted on an easing ofsanctions and an acknowledgment of the country's right to enrichuranium, conditions that the United States and the EuropeanUnion have not accepted. Khazaee reiterated those demands onFriday.

Khazaee also touched on the 16-month conflict in Syria,where the United States and the EU have accused Iran ofproviding military support to President Bashar al-Assad in hisassault on an increasingly militarized opposition.

The Iranian diplomat indicated that Tehran's exclusion fromGeneva negotiations of major world powers and key regionalplayers organized by international mediator Kofi Annan on Syriawas not in the interest of those attempts to resolve the crisis.

"They have to take into consideration the power andinfluence of Iran in the region," Khazaee said.

He distributed to reporters an English translation ofJalili's letter - Iranian state television reported about it onThursday.

"There is no doubt that any gesture which damages theconfidence-building process would be counterproductive," Jaliliwrote, adding that "those who replace logic with illegitimatemeans in the talks shall be accountable for any damage to theproductive process of the talks."

An EU embargo on Iranian oil takes full effect on July 1.Iran's crude oil exports have fallen by some 40 percent thisyear, according to the International Energy Agency.

Four U.N. Security Council resolutions since 2006 havedemanded Iran suspend all its enrichment-related activities dueto concerns about the nature of the nuclear program. Tehran hasrefused to suspend enrichment, arguing that it is a sovereignright guaranteed under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.